Boeing received a phase I contract from the US Air Force Research Laboratory to demonstrate miniature weapon technology on unmanned airborne vehicles (UAV).
Boeing Phantom Works’ advanced weapons and missiles director Carl Avila said the UAVs were increasingly called upon to perform strike operations, and this weapon technology is designed specifically for those missions.
“The concept behind this technology is designed to generate very low collateral damage and allows warfighters to engage a variety of targets, including those in a suburban terrain environment,” he said.
Boeing will develop the system integration, seeker, avionics, guidance and control, and mission planning systems based on its joint direct attack munition and small-diameter bomb programmes.
KaZaK Composites will build the airframe, Ensign Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company will design and build the warhead, and Systima Technologies will provide integration and testing services for the launcher.
Science Applications International Corporation will provide systems engineering for the seeker and seeker algorithms, and the Mustang Technology Group will provide height-of-burst and radar options.
